Road fatalities on the Limpopo roads have decreased this past Easter weekend, compared to the same period last year.

This was announced in a media statement issued by the provincial Department of Roads and Transport on Tuesday.

Twenty-two people lost their lives on the province’s roads the past Easter, compared to the 25 last year.

“Two major routes, the N1 and R101 leading in and out of the province, were heavily congested as expected, with holiday makers and members of the ZCC Church making their annual pilgrimage to Moria. The province recorded more than 7600 vehicles that entered and exited Limpopo between 5 April and 9 April,” said the department.

Apart from reducing the senseless loss of lives this Easter, the number of road accidents was significantly reduced from 83 in 2011 to 49 this year. Many of the accidents in the province happened in the villages and townships as opposed to major routes.

In the Vhembe district, one person died on road B3635, in Giyani at Xihosane village, when the driver of a Toyota sedan lost control of his vehicle. The vehicle overturned, claiming the life of one passenger while the driver and one passenger were injured. At Ndwambe village, a pedestrian (a 34-year-old  woman) was hit and killed by a sedan while crossing the road. One person died and four people were injured at Tshiozwi when a bakkie driver lost control and the vehicle overturned. Another pedestrian (a 34-year-old male) was hit and killed on the R81 in Bolobedu and Belleview village. Two people were killed in the Waterberg district in Lephalale at Slangfontein when a bakkie's tyre burst and it overturned.  Two people died on the Malebogo and Taibosch road between Eldorado and Tevrede when a sedan overturned.

“Many of the accidents this Easter happened in the villages and the townships. As the department, we are going to strengthen our working relation with the municipalities to ensure that we reduce carnage on the municipal routes. We are further going to engage with the broader communities to ensure that all road users in our communities change their behaviour, obey all the rules of the road, reduce speed and refrain from driving under the influence of alcohol,” said the department.

During this Easter, at least 27 229 cars were stopped and screened, while 1 232 vehicles were tested for roadworthiness. A total of 29 cars were taken off the road while 59 were impounded. A further  112 road users were arrested (17 for drunk driving, 10 for suspected stolen vehicles, one for possession of dagga, one for bribery, one for reckless and negligent driving and 10 for driving without public transport permits). A total of 104 warrants were issued. The highest speed recorded on the province’s roads during the Easter weekend was 143km/h in an 80km/h zone.